“Is that so?” Bai Jinqiu glanced down at the black neck ring the youth wore, his eyes lowering slightly.
It was an old-fashioned pheromone-suppressing neck ring, pitch-black, cold, and rigid. It formed a stark contrast against the little Omega’s fair, tender neck, possessing almost a kind of harsh, abusive aesthetic that could pass for a bondage accessory, completely concealing the gland on the back of the youth’s neck.
The comfort level of old-fashioned pheromone suppression rings was not particularly high, and they were much heavier than the models currently in general use. Furthermore, due to limited technological standards and the need to ensure a secure fit, the size of the neck ring ran quite tight, causing severe discomfort when worn for extended periods. The skin along the edges of the youth’s neck had already been chafed until it was faintly red.
“Do you not even take off your neck ring inside the room? Your neck has been rubbed raw,” Bai Jinqiu said in a warm tone. “The rooms here are enclosed, and there is an air filtration system. There are also no Alphas in the room, so as long as you do not go outside, you do not need to worry.”
The youth touched his own neck, feeling the faint, stinging pain of the skin along the edge of the neck ring. After hesitating for a second, he still shook his head. “Never mind, I will just keep wearing it. My brother does not allow me to take it off when I am outside. Besides, is Jinqiu-ge not wearing the exact same neck ring as me? Did your brother not take his off either?”
With that, the youth pointed toward Bai Jinqiu’s neck.
Bai Jinqiu froze for a moment, touched the neck ring on his own neck, and then reacted, letting out an amused chuckle. “Mine is just styled to look like that; it is actually a new model of suppression neck ring, very light and it does not chafe the skin.”
The neck ring on his neck looked very similar to the one the youth was wearing at first glance, but it was actually the portable, retracted form of his advanced combat armor. Because the military required all Alphas and Omegas to wear suppression neck rings while on duty, and advanced combat armor possessed auxiliary functions to suppress pheromone leakage, he usually wore it as a pheromone suppression ring as well.
However, just now, in order to release soothing pheromones, he had turned off that auxiliary function.
“This is a pseudo-military-style suppression neck ring, quite popular outside. This style suits me well, does it not?” Bai Jinqiu blinked at him.
It was precisely because this style was so popular among ordinary people that he could wear it out anytime without any misgivings.
The little Omega’s face flushed red at his words, and he nodded in a dazed manner.
Indeed, the black, pseudo-military-style neck ring worn on Bai Jinqiu’s neck gave off a sharp, solemn, ascetic vibe, unlike himself, who looked utterly out of place wearing such a style.
Bai Jinqiu thought for a moment and said, “How about this? I will give you a new model of neck ring. It is one I bought for emergencies a while ago, and since I have not used it in a long time, it should suit you well. That way you will not feel uncomfortable wearing it all the time.”
“Ah? No need, Jinqiu-ge!” The youth hurriedly waved his hands.
Yet Bai Jinqiu had already produced a snow-white neck ring with lace edging from his storage device.
That neck ring was so pretty it looked like an exquisite decorative piece, and the little Omega, whose natural disposition favored beautiful things, instantly found his gaze locked onto it.
So pretty! Is this really a suppression neck ring?! The new model neck rings are actually this pretty?!
Seeing that the youth liked it, Bai Jinqiu smiled and handed the neck ring into his hands.
This neck ring was not actually something he bought; he would never purchase a suppression neck ring in this style under any circumstances. It was a disguise prop from one of his past missions, which at the time had also housed a tracker and a bug inside, though those had been dismantled once the mission ended, leaving it as nothing more than an ordinary lace neck ring now.
“Shall I help you put it on?”
The youth still hesitated somewhat. “Jinqiu-ge, can you really give this to me? It looks so expensive.”
Whether this item was expensive or not, Bai Jinqiu honestly had no idea, but no matter how expensive it was, it certainly could not cost more than the equipment he consumed on every mission.
“Rest assured, I have plenty of neck rings. This one truly does not suit me, and if you do not want it, I will not wear it anyway. Giving it to you allows it to serve its purpose.”
Since he put it that way, the youth thought about it and stopped pushing back.
Jinqiu-ge is able to give away such an advanced suppression neck ring so easily, he thought to himself, which means his previous life must have been wonderful. Even after falling onto the Fringe Star, he is still this kind. Jinqiu-ge is truly a good person, and he will surely meet an Alpha who treats him exceptionally well in the future!
Bai Jinqiu had no idea what the little Omega before him was thinking. He reached out quite naturally and, with a click, helped him undo the black neck ring on his neck.
The chafing sensation against the back of his neck as the rigid neck ring was removed caused the youth to shiver involuntarily.
Bai Jinqiu’s gaze shifted, and the sight before him made his eyes turn icy cold in an instant.
Just as Rong Zhiting had anticipated. At the gland on the back of the youth’s neck, there was a bite mark that could only be described as brutal and grotesque.
The next second, as if suddenly reacting to something, Fenri abruptly turned around, facing Bai Jinqiu to block his view of the back of his neck, his eyes holding a trace of flustered panic as he said:
“Thank you, Jinqiu-ge! I can do the rest myself!”
Yet this time, Bai Jinqiu did not step back as requested. Instead, he reached out to gently press down on the youth’s shoulders, while his other hand picked up the pretty white neck ring and placed it around the youth’s neck, covering his gland and that brutal bite mark.
The neck ring made of new skin-friendly materials brought no discomfort to the Omega’s fragile, sensitive neck; instead, it felt soft and comfortable, leaving the youth somewhat astonished and momentarily forgetting his earlier panic.
“Fenri, I remember you mentioned during our chat earlier that you are fifteen years old, correct?”
Bai Jinqiu’s voice was calm and gentle, carrying no discernible emotion. Yet Fenri could not help shrinking his shoulders.
His upbringing had made him exceptionally sensitive to subtle shifts in tone, and he instinctively realized that the person before him was angry, extremely angry.
“Jinqiu-ge?” The youth’s soft voice carried a slight tremor, cautious and sounding exceptionally pitiful.
Bai Jinqiu sat down beside him, a hint of helplessness showing in his eyes as he said softly, “What are you afraid of? I am not going to scold you, I was simply asking your age.”
Fenri bit his lower lip and whispered, “I am turning soon, in two months.”
“When did you undergo secondary differentiation?”
“When I was fourteen.”
“After you differentiated, did your family members or teachers at school teach you any physiological knowledge?”
The youth lowered his head slightly, mumbling, “No. But I have read a few pop-science books. I know ordinary common sense.”
Bai Jinqiu raised his head to glance at the ceiling, masking the coldness in his eyes as he thought to himself, Figures.
A little Omega originating from the Fringe Star had not even taken systematic biology classes.
Within the scope of what passed for common sense on the Fringe Star, pheromone dependency syndrome and the Omega Protection Act were most likely excluded. This kid had no idea what kind of consequences being marked by an Alpha on his gland would bring to his body, nor what a heinous crime the Alpha who marked him had committed against him.
If a severe case of pheromone dependency syndrome flared up, it could prove fatal.
Bai Jinqiu sighed silently.
“When were you adopted by your brother?” he asked.
Fenri thought about it. “Um. Last year, on my fifteenth birthday.”
It had been nearly a year already.
“How many times has he performed gland markings on you?” Bai Jinqiu asked flatly.
The little Omega’s complexion instantly flushed bright red, and he stammered, refusing to answer.
“No. He did not. No. I.”
“Fenri.” Bai Jinqiu looked into his eyes, speaking softly. “Tell me, how many times has he performed gland markings on you?”
“I. I. Cannot remember.” The youth’s face was so red it looked ready to steam.
Bai Jinqiu closed his eyes.
It is too late.
Fenri was a B-minus-rank Omega, one rank higher than that C-plus-rank Alpha, giving him a weak bloodline suppression over that Alpha. If only a single gland marking had ever been performed, the bond might not necessarily have formed. But if multiple markings had already taken place.
“Fenri, if you leave that Alpha’s side for an extended period, do you feel extremely restless and anxious, along with severe physical discomfort?”
“That is a normal thing to do, is it not? Omegas who have been marked all get like that. That is just an Omega’s instinctive reliance on their Alpha.”
“Is this condition severe?” Bai Jinqiu ignored his excuses, his gaze remaining calm and gentle, yet carrying an underlying seriousness that brooked no evasion.
Fenri felt somewhat frightened, turning his head away to murmur, “It is fine, I suppose. He does not make me leave him for long. Jinqiu-ge, why are you asking such questions? I do not want to talk about this anymore.”
“Fenri. You need to understand that that Alpha is committing a crime against you,” Bai Jinqiu said coolly.
“According to Federation law, an Alpha who forcibly marks an underage Omega or intentionally induces underage Omega pheromone dependency syndrome is guilty of a felony. If he has carried out further violations against you, he can face up to life imprisonment even if no permanent physical damage was caused. If permanent damage resulted, the maximum penalty can be the death penalty.”
“You may not have experienced the agony of a severe flare-up of pheromone dependency syndrome yet, and I hope you never have to experience it either. Believe me, this is not some minor ailment.”
“Once it flares up, you will wish you were dead. If you fail to receive timely medical treatment, your life will be in danger.”
The little Omega had been thoroughly terrified by his words.
He had never heard the term pheromone dependency syndrome, nor did he grasp the concept of the felony Bai Jinqiu spoke of. But phrases like wish you were dead and death penalty were more than enough to scare a child out of his wits.
“Jinqiu-ge. I.” The little Omega grabbed the hem of Bai Jinqiu’s shirt in a fluster, his pretty face turned deathly pale with fright, right on the verge of crying.
When an underage Omega displayed such an expression of extreme terror and helplessness, it was difficult for anyone not to soften.
Bai Jinqiu sighed inwardly, appropriately releasing a trace of soothing pheromones. The crisp, slightly bitter, cool scent of cedar was gentle and encompassing, gradually diffusing through the room and wrapping around the slender youth.
The little Omega slowly calmed down a fraction.
Coincidentally, right at this moment, another round of knocking sounded at the door.
The youth’s pupils suddenly contracted, his entire body starting to tremble as he stiffly turned his head toward the door. Yet suddenly, a warm hand pressed down onto his shoulder.
“Fenri, calm down. Nothing will happen.” Bai Jinqiu’s warm voice possessed a magical soothing effect, miraculously helping his terror-addled brain regain a hint of composure.
He looked toward Bai Jinqiu for rescue, only to find that Bai Jinqiu was looking in another direction.
At some point, Rong Zhiting had finished showering and changed his clothes, stepping out of the bathroom, and was currently standing beside Bai Jinqiu’s bed.
He had heard the majority of what Bai Jinqiu said to Fenri, and likely already grasped the situation.
“Brother, shall I go open the door?”
Bai Jinqiu nodded, and Rong Zhiting walked toward the door, reaching out to pull it open.
“Fenri, why are you being so slow again, this time.” Repre Vino stopped mid-sentence upon discovering that the person opening the door was once again not Fenri, but an unfamiliar Beta.
An Alpha’s possessiveness caused a surge of anger to well up instantly, turning his face as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Who was this person this time? Was this room open to just anyone?
He took a deep breath, managing to keep himself from roaring out loud on the spot, though his voice remained cold and rigid as he demanded:
“Who are you, and why are you in my brother’s room?”
“This is not just your brother’s room; it is also my brother’s room.” Rong Zhiting said calmly.
He gazed with steady eyes at the furious Alpha before him, his expression placid, offering no reaction whatsoever to the other’s attitude.
“Your brother?” Repre’s expression softened slightly as he looked Rong Zhiting up and down. “You are that Omega’s brother?”
Suspicion laced his gaze, yet he voiced no challenge against Rong Zhiting’s identity.
Because even though this person did not look all that similar to that Omega, his reaction and attitude upon opening the door facing him were almost carbon-copied from his brother.
It was literally like they were cut from the exact same mold.